Wheel.



R. RIEHL.

WHEEL.

AYPLIOATION FILED 11110.12, 1910.

15 Robert Rz'el V Vented certain new UNITED 'STATES iaiENr oEEioE.

ROBERT RIEHL, 0F ST. LOUIS, MISSOURI.

WHEEL.

1,003,123. Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented sept. i2, i911. Application filed December 12, 1910. Serial No. 596,822.

To all whom 'it may concern:

Be it known that I, ROBERT RIEHL, a citizen of the United States, residing at Louis, in the State of Missouri, have inand useful Improve' of which the followingis form openings 7, whereby the weight` of the wheel is reduced. The rii'ig-niembers G form what is generally termed the folly of a wheel, the term felly, however, being gen# eially applicable to a wooden annular structure. The ring-members 6 are provided at equal spaced intervals with registering pairs of preferably'substantially senii-ellip tical portions 8, pressed from the material of the ring-members 6. The pairs of substantiallyv semifelliptical portions 8, .forni substantially elliptical casings or sockets 9, for receiving the outer ends of the spokes, as shown. The ring-members (i may be suitably secured together by any desired means, such as bolts or rivets, as shown at 10. ring-members 6 ai'e provided upon their periphery with outwardly extending annu` lar flanges 1l, upon which is disposed a metallic rim 12, adapted for the reception of a ments in Wheels, a specification. L

y` invention relates to a resilient wheel which is adapted to fulfil the functions of a wheel equipped with. an ordinary pneumatic tire. Y

lAn important object of my invention is to provide a wheel of' the above character, by' the employment of which the advantages afforded by the pneumatic tire may be had, without the expense and trouble occasioned by such tire.

A further object of` my invention is to provide a resilient wheel for automobiles or other vehicles, which is comparatively light,

strong and durable, and which is capable solid rubber orv leather tire 13. The rim 13 of absorbing shocks as is a wheelequipped 1S bOlted 0r riveted to the lianges 11, as with a pneumatic tire. shown at 14.

Other objects and advantages of this invention will be lapparent during the course of the following description.

In the accompanying drawings forming a part-of this specification, and in which l like numerals are employed to designate like parts throughout the saine, Figure lv is a side view .of the wheel complete, Fig. 2 is an enlarged detail View of av portion of one of the ring-members, showing a -socket for Each of the spokes 'and the means for yieldingly supporting the same are alike, and therefore a description of one of the spokes will suflice. As shown in F ig. 3, the outer end portion of the spoke 8 is disposed Within the casing or socket 9, the spoke 3 being capable of moving longitudinally and transversely of said socket in a plane of the wheel, by. virtue of the elongated shape in cross-section of said socket. The longituthe spoke and associated members. Fig. 3- dinal movement of the spoke. 3 is limited, is an enlarged sectional View, taken through when its outer end engages the rim 12. Dist e ring-member and rim, atright angles posed within the casing or socket 9 and in he plane of rotation of the wheel, and

engagement with the rim 12, is a compress Fig. 4 is a sectional View taken on line4`4 sible coil spring 15, having substantially of Fig. 2.

A semi-elliptical turns, as shown, which are of In the drawings, wherein is illustrated the proper size to fit snugly within the socketa preferred embodiment of my invention,

9. his eompressible coil spring is to have the wheel is shown as comprising a hub l, a desired degree of stiffness, corresponding having the usual opening 2, formed thereto the load to be supported thereby. The through, forreceiving an axle (not shown). Spoke 3 carries withinthe socket 9, 'a pair of This hub carries spokes'3, 4 and 5, which preferably diametrically disposed eXtenare rigidly connected with the hub l by any sions or lugs 16, having recesses formed suitable means. The spokes may prefertherein for the reception of anti-friction ably be formed of steel, although any other means, in the form of roller-bearings 17. suitably strong material such as-hard wood, hese roller-bearings engage a substantially may be employed.

p elliptical Washer 18, which in turn engages Arranged normally in concentric relation the spring 15. A cap 19 is mounted upon with the hub 1 and about the same, as shown, the inner end of the socket 9 and has outis a` pair of twin ring-meinbers 6 which are y wardly bent ends 20, which straddle and are preferably formed of sheet-metal. or steel.-

I suitably connected with said socket. This ese ring-members may preferably have cap 19 is provided with an elongated open- 'portions of their material stamped out, to ing 2l to permit of the aboveieferred to mounted between the cap 19 and socket 9,

is a dust guard in the Jform of a flat plate 22,

having its ends extending `beyond said socket, as shown.

In the operation of the wheel,'assuming the same to be carrying a load, when the wheel is bumped or jarred, the vertically .disposed spokes 3 will reciprocate longitudinally,

while the horizontally disposed spokes 4 will reciprocate laterally, and the spokes 5 will have a movement which is a resultant of the two above referred. to movements. K

I wish it understood that the form of my invention herewith shown and described is to be taken as a preferred example of the same, and that certain changes in the shape, siz'e and arrangement of parts may be resorted to without departing from the spirit of my'invention or the scope of the subj omed claims. l

I-Iaving thus desoribedmy invention, I

claim 1. In a wheel of the character described, a hub, a spoke' connected therewith, a rim structure provided with a socket having a substantially elliptical opening for receiving the spoke to permit the same to move laterally m the Aplane of the wheel, a com- :v

pressible coil spring fitting snugly within said socket and having substantially elliptical turns, and roller-bearings -connected with said spoke to compress the coil spring.

2. In a wheel of the character described, a hub, spokes' connected therewith, a rim structure comprising a plurality .of spaced connected sockets for receiving the outer portions of the spokes, compressible coil springs fitting snuglyv within said sockets and having substantially elliptical turns.

whereby said spokes have their outer portions disposed within the axial openings of the springs, and said spokes are capable of lateral movement in the plane of the wheel, lugs connected with the spokes, and rollers engaging said lugs to compress the springs upon longitudinal movement of the spokes.

In testimony whereof I aiX my signature in presence of two witnesses.

' ROBERT RIEHL.

' Witnesses:

ANTHONY F. ITTNER, JOSEPH BLOCK. Y

(opie's of this patent may be obtained for iive cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents, Washington, D. C. 

